Original Word: συντίθημι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: suntithémi
Pronunciation: soon-TITH-ay-mee
Phonetic Spelling: (soon-tith'-em-ahee)
KJV: agree, assent, covenant
NASB: agreed
Word Origin: [middle voice from G4862 (σύν - along) and G5087 (τίθημι - laid)]

1. to place jointly
2. (figuratively) to consent (bargain, stipulate), concur

agree, assent, covenant.

Middle voice from sun and tithemi; to place jointly, i.e. (figuratively) to consent (bargain, stipulate), concur -- agree, assent, covenant.

see GREEK sun

see GREEK tithemi

Word Origin
from sun and tithémi
Definition
to place together, hence observe, agree
NASB Translation
agreed (3).

STRONGS NT 4934: συντίθημι

συντίθημι: middle, 2 aorist 3 person plural συνέθεντο; pluperfect 3 person plural συνετέθειντο; from Homer down; to put with or together, to place together; to join together; middle a. to place in one's mind, i. e. to resolve, determine; to make an agreement, to engage (often so in secular writings from Herodotus down; cf. Passow, under the word, 2 b.; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, B. II.)): συνετέθειντο, they had agreed together (Winer's Grammar, § 38, 3), followed by ἵνα, John 9:22 (Winer's Grammar, § 44, 8 b.); συνέθεντο, they agreed together, followed by τοῦ with an infinitive (Buttmann, 270 (232)), Acts 23:20; they covenanted, followed by an infinitive (Buttmann, as above), Luke 22:5.

b. to assent to, to agree to: Acts 24:9 Rec. (see συνεπιτίθημι) (τίνι, Lysias, in Harpocration (under the word καρκίνος), p. 106, 9 Bekker).

Overview

Strong’s Greek 4934 highlights the act of coming to a joint decision—whether by formal covenant, informal arrangement, or clandestine plot. Every New Testament occurrence depicts a collective resolve against Jesus Christ or His apostolic witness. The verb therefore illustrates the hostility of human councils toward divine purpose, while simultaneously magnifying God’s sovereign overruling of such councils.

Occurrences and Immediate Contexts

• Luke 22:5 – Chief priests and temple officers “agreed to give him money,” setting in motion the betrayal of the Messiah.
• John 9:22 – Religious leaders “had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue,” revealing institutional pressure to silence testimony.
• Acts 23:20 – More than forty zealots “have agreed” on a plot to ambush Paul, evidencing the persistence of hostility toward the gospel.
• Acts 24:9 – The Jews before Felix “concurred, affirming that these charges were true,” demonstrating coordinated legal opposition to the apostle.

Theological Significance

1. Human conspiracy versus divine decree. The word repeatedly frames moments when religious or civic authorities align their wills against God’s redemptive plan (compare Psalm 2:1-3). Each instance underscores the futility of resisting the Lord’s anointed.
2. The cost of discipleship. John 9:22 shows that confessing Jesus may bring exclusion from religious or social structures, yet allegiance to Christ remains paramount (Matthew 10:32-33).
3. Perseverance of the gospel. In Acts, plots and accusations cannot hinder the advance of the word. Paul testifies before rulers precisely because opposing factions “agreed” to stop him (Philippians 1:12-14).

Historical Background

First-century Judaism was governed by layered authorities—chief priests, elders, synagogue rulers, and the Sanhedrin—who could jointly render binding decisions. Roman administration allowed substantial latitude for internal religious discipline, including banishment from synagogue fellowship. Thus, when leaders “agreed,” the decision carried significant social and legal weight.

Ministry Implications

• Expect opposition. Coordinated resistance remains a reality wherever the gospel confronts entrenched interests.
• Maintain integrity under pressure. The healed man in John 9 chose truth over conformity; modern believers may face analogous tests in workplaces, schools, or governments.
• Trust divine sovereignty. In each narrative, God turns conspiracies into platforms for revelation—Judas’s treachery leads to the cross, synagogue expulsion gives public witness, and plots against Paul propel him to Rome.

Practical Application

• Intercede for boldness. Pray that believers threatened by organized hostility will speak “the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
• Foster unity in righteousness, not in sin. The same verb can signify godly agreement (see Philippians 2:2 conceptually). Resolve that any covenant or partnership in ministry honors Christ and upholds truth.
• Discern and address institutional sin. Churches and ministries must guard against collective decisions that compromise the gospel for expediency or cultural acceptance.

Conclusion

Strong’s 4934 serves as a sober reminder that people can unite for evil as readily as for good. Yet at every turn Scripture affirms that no alliance can negate God’s purposes: “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11).

συνεθεντο συνέθεντο συνέθεσθε συνέθου συνεπεθεντο συνεπέθεντο συνετεθειντο συνετέθειντο συντιμήσεως συντίμησιν συντίμησις sunepethento sunetetheinto sunethento synepethento synepéthento synetetheinto synetétheinto synethento synéthentoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts